Power unit and method of creating energy



Sept. 29, 1931. J. E. SHEPHERD POWER UNIT AND METHOD OF CREATING ENERGY Filed Sept. 1, 1925 E/m Babe ohm.

INVENTOR ATTORNEY Patented Sept. 29, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE JOHN E. SHEPHERD, 0F CHABLOTTEBVILLE, VIRGINIA, ASSIGNOB TO NATIONAL COLD STEAM COMPANY, OI? OHARDOTTESVILLE, VIRGINIA, A CORPORATION OB DELA- WARE POWER 'UfiI'I. AND METHOD 0] ENERGY Application filed September This invention relates to spraying apparatus and methods wherein steam or. other gases under pressure atomize and spray liquids or other material and steam upon plants or other objects or for cleaning or lubricating vehicles or other objects or for extinguishing fires, though it is noted that the invention is not limited to use with steam or liquids nor in some respects even to spraying objects.

One object of the invention is to provide an apparatus or device of this kind in which heat and power from an explosive fuel are respectively used for heating or vaporizing the spray materials and for furnishing spraying pressure.

Another object out the invention is to provide an apparatus or device of this kind which will be extremely portable and compact in structure and an apparatus and meth od which result in extreme economy of fuel and power.

Another object or" the invention is to provide an apparatus or device of this kind which will be improvements over the steam boiler operated apparatus shown in the applications of Shepherd and OBrien, Serial No. 2,804 filed Dec. 1, 1923, apparatus and method for agricultural sprayin Shepherd and UBrien, Serial No. 683,515 led Dec. 29, 1923, car cleaner and lubricating method; John E. Shepherd, Serial No. 1,173 filed J an. 8, 1925, method and apparatus for creating colloidal atomizations; and John E. Shepherd, Serial No. 70,725,fi1ed Nov. 21, 1925, method of cleaning, polishing and lubricating automobiles and other vehicles.

@ther objects of the invention are to improve generally the simplicity, lightness and eficiency of such devices and to provide a device or apparatus of this kind which is reliable, durable and economical to manufacture and operate.

till other objects of the invention will appear as the description proceeds; and while herein details of the invention are described and claimed, the invention is not limited to thesesince many and various changes may be made without departing from the scope of 1, 1925. Serial I0. 53,892.

the mufiier, where it is heated, into the steam jacket where it is vaporized. A compression pump drawing the exhaust from the mufiler forces it under high pressure through a spray nozzle where its induction action draws into and through the nozzle steam from the steam jacket, and liquids, such as insecticide or cleansing material, from a suitable tank or tanks, whereby liquids are mixed with the exhaust and steam and ejected in the form of .a spray.

In the accompanying drawings, showing by way of example, one of many possible embodiments of the invention,

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic side elevation partly in longitudinal vertical section showing the assembled apparatus; and

Fig. 2 is a central longitudinal sectional view showing the nozzle.

lhe apparatus, shown herein carried on a truck 5 having wheels 6, includes a gasolene or other internal combustion engine 7 comprising a power-take-ofi and fly wheel 8, a cylinder 10 having a valve head 11, and a helical water jacket passage 12 around the cylinder. The steam jacketed exhause pipe 13 passes from the cylinder head to the mufiler 14 on the truck below said cylinder. A water tank 15 on a platform 16 supported on the cylinder isconnected by a pipe 17 with the head end of the helical passage 12 for receiving water for cooling the cylinder and heating the water, whence it passes through a pipe 18 communicating with the other end of said passage and passing into the discharge end of the muffler and spirally through the mufiler, as at 19, whereby the water is further heated before it is discharged into the steam jacket 20 into contact with the exhaust pipe 13 whereby the water is converted into steam.

A discharge pipe 23 receives the exhaust from the mufiler from which it is drawn into the intake chamber 24 of a multicylinder compression pump 25 driven by a belt and pulley connection 26, 27, 28 between its crank shaft 29 and the main shaft 30 of the engine for driving the pump from the engine. A pressure pipe 32 from the pressure chamber 33 of the pump conducts the very highly compressed exhaust gases through a flexible pressure tube or conduit means 34 to a mixing and atomizing nozzle 35.

A steam pipe 38 discharging from the upper end of the steam jacket 20 and having a control valve 39 therein discharges into a connection 40 mounted on said pressure pipe and forming a chamber 41 therearound communicating with said steam pipe 38 and having an outlet 42 surrounding the pressure pipe in which is received a flexible steam conduit 43 surrounding the pressure tube 34 and extending from said outlet 42 to the nozzle 35. A heat resistant handle 44 surrounds said conduit 43 and is provided with a pipe extension 45 supporting the nozzle and surrounding the upper end of the conduit 43. An insecticide pipe 47 having valved branches 48 extending to and draining the respective cleanser, lubricator. fire extin om'sher or insecticide tanks 49, 50 is connected by a flexible insecticide tube or conduit means 51 to the nozzle 35.

The nozzle comprises an elbow chamber 55 (Fig.2) having an outer discharge end 56 and a lateral inlet 57 to which is secured a connection 58 (Fig. 1) connecting the insecticide tube 51 with the chamber. A steam tube 60 in said chamber coaxial with said discharge end and having a discharge end 61 of Venturi form has its rear end 62 widened for the re ception of said conduit 43 and extension 45 thereon.

A nozzle tube 63 discharging coaxially into said widened part receives said pressure tube 34 thereon and is small enough to afford a steam passage 64 therearound to the steam tube and is held in place by connecting members 65 secured to said nozzle tube and said widened part.

The induction action of the compressed combustion gases passing from the air nozzle tube 60 is great enough to reduce the pressure in the steam jacket 20 enough to prevent back pressure in the water tank 15; and the induction action of the steam and gas mixture passing through the Venturi end 61 is sulfioient to draw liquid from the tanks 49 or 50 or both and to atomize and to eject it in the form of a floating mist.

The operation of the apparatus is very simple and is substantially obvious from the foregoing. The tanks 15,49 and 50 are filled with water and the desired insecticides or cleansing liquids and the valves 70, 71 and 72 closed, the engine is started up, and as soon as the pressure gauge 73 shows that a slight steam pressure is generated, the valves 70, 39 and 71 or 72 or both are opened.

The inductive action of the compressed-gas in the tubes 34 and 63 draws along the steam in the conduit 43 and tube 60, causing the mixture to discharge through the Venturi end 61 (Fig. 2) and to induce a flow of liquid through the tube 51 from the tanks 49, 50.

The valves 71 and 72 may, if desired, stop the flow from one or both tanks 49, 50; and all of the valves may be adjusted to control the proportionate rate of fiow of the respective fluids passing therethrough and the de-= gree of atomization.

The blast of more or less atomized liquid and steam and gas mixture dischar ed from the end 56 (Fig. 2) may be used 'or disinfecting, cleansing, lubricating, fire extinguishing and other obvious uses, and uses suggested in said applications.

I claim as my invention:

1. A method comprising exploding fuel and developing heat and mechanical power therefrom; heating water with said heat; further heating said water by the exhaust gases to produce steam; utilizing said power for compressing said gases for producing a stream of high pressure gas; carrying said steam along with said stream by inductive action to form a blast of the mixture; and drawing cleansing liquids into said blast by inductive action to form a mist.

2. A method comprising exploding fuel and developing heat, mechanical power and exhaust gases therefrom; mufiiing the exhaust gases; heating water with said heat and the heat of the mufiied gases; further heating said water by the exhaust gases to produce steam; utilizing said power for compressing said gases for producing a stream of high pressure gas; carrying said steam along with said stream by inductive action to form a blast of the mixture; and drawing li uids into said blast by inductive action to orm a mist.

3. In combination, means for exploding fuel and developing heat and power therefrom; means for mufiiing the exhaust gases resulting from said exploding fuel; water containing means heated by the heat developed by the first mentioned means and by the heat of said mufiled gases for producing steam; means for utilizing for compressing said gases for producing a stream of high pressure gas power developed by the first mentioned means; means for carrying along a stream of said steam and said stream of gas to form a blast of said steam and gas; and means for drawing into said blast by induction of a stream of said steam and gas liquids to form a mist..

4. In combination, an internal combustion engine; water containing means disposed in proximity to said engine to form steam by eat of said engine; a fluid tank; a nozzle; and means actuated by the power of said enine for conducting to said nozzle steam rom said water containing means and fluid from said tank.

5. In combination, an internal combustion engine; water containing means disposed in close proximity to said engine for thereby producing steam by heat of the engine, a nozzle; and means actuated by the power of said engine for conducting steam from said water containing means to said nozzle.

6. In combination, an internal combustion engine having an exhaust pipe; water containing means disposed in proximity to said engine for providing steam by heat of the engine; a fluid tank; a nozzle; and means for conducting to said nozzle steam from said water containing means and fluids from said exhaust pipe and said tank.

7 In combination, an internal combustion engine having an exhaust pipe; a steam jacket on the exhaust pipe; means supplying water to the steam jacket; a tank; a nozzle; and conduit means conducting fluid from the exhaust pipe, the steam jacket, and the tank to the nozzle.

8. In combination, an internal combustion engme having an exhaust pipe; water containing means disposed around said exhaust pipe to form steam by heat of the engine; an insecticide tank; a nozzle; and means for conducting to said nozzle steam from said water containing means, exhaust gas from said pipe and insecticide from said tank.

9. In combination, an internal combustion engine having an exhaust pipe; a steam jacket on the exhaust pipe; means supplying water to the steam jacket; tanks for cleansing liquids; an induction nozzle; and conduit mpans conducting fluid from the exhaust pipe, the steam jacket and the tank to the nozzle; the induction action of compressed combustion gases passing through the nozzle tube being great enough to reduce the pressure in the steam jacket enough to prevent back pressure therein; the induction action of the steam and gas mixture passing through the nozzle being sufficient to draw insecticide from the insecticide tanks and to atomize and eject the insecticide as a floating mist. 1

- 10. Incombination, an internal combustion engine having a cylinder water jacket and an exhaust pipe; a steam jacket on the exhaust pipe; means supplying water to the Water jacket; a pipe passing from said water jacket into the steam jacket; a tank for liquids; a nozzle; and pipes from the exhaust pipe, the steam jacket, and the tank to the nozzle.

11. In combination, an internal combustion engine having a cylinder; 9. water jacket cylinder to the muflier; a steam jacket onthe exhaust pipe; a water tank discharging into the waterg'acket; a pipe communicating with one end 0 said passage and passing into the discharge and of the mufller and assing spirally through the muflier where y the water is further heated and then discharging into said steam jacket into contact with the exhaust pipe whereby the liquid is boiled; a dischar e pipe receivingothe exhaust from the mu er; an insecticide tank; a nozzle; and conduit means conducting fluid from said discharge pipe, the steam jacket and the insecticide tank to the nozzle.

12. In combination, an internal combustion engine having a cylinder, a mufller and an exhaust ipe discharging into the mufller; a water jac et on said cylinder; means supplying water to said jacket; a nozzle; conduit means conducting water from said jacket through the mufller to the nozzle; and conduit means'conducting exhaust gas from the muffler to the nozzle.

13. In combination, an internal combustion engine having an exhaust pipe and a mufller therefor; a steam jacket on the exhaust pipe; a pipe conducting water through the muflier to the steam jacket; a nozzle; and conduit means conducting fluid from the exhlaust pipe and the steam jacket to the nozz e.

14. In combination, an internal combustion engine comprising a cylinder having a water jacket thereon; a muifler; an exhaust pipe from said cylinder to the mufller; a steam jacket on the exhaust pipe; means supplying water to the water jacket; a pipe from said water jacket passing through the muffler into said steam jacket; a discharge pipe from the muffler; a nozzle; and conduit means conducting fluid from said discharge pipe and the steam jacket to the nozzle.

15. In combination, an internal combustion engine having an exhaust pipe; a steam jacket on the exhaust pipe; means supplying Water to the steam jacket; a compression pump drawing the exhaust from the exhaust pipe; a tank for liquids; a nozzle; and pipes from the pump, the steam jacket, and the tank to the nozzle.

16. In combination, an internal combustion engine having an exhaust pipe; a steam jacket on the exhaust pipe; means supplying water to the steam jacket; a nozzle; and conduit means, one within the other, conducting fluid from the exhaust pipe and the steam jacket to the nozzle.

17. In combination, an internal combustion engine having an exhaust pipe; a steam jacket on the exhaust pipe; means supplying water to the steam jacket; a nozzle; and

steam and pressure pipes conducting fluid from the steam jacket and the exhaust pipe to the nozzle, the pressure pipe being within the steam pipe.

18. In combination, an internal combustion engine having a cylinder Water jacket, a muflier, and an exhaust pipe from the cylinder to the mufiier; a steam jacket on the exhaust pipe; means supplying water to the water jacket; a pipe passing rom said water jacket through the mufller into the steam jac ret; a steam pipe discharging from the upper end of the steam jacket and having a control valve therein; a pressure pipe communicating with the exhaust pipe; a nozzle; a flexible pressure tube extending from the pressure pipe to the nozzle; a connection mounted on said pressure pipe and forming a chamber communicating with said steam pipe and an outlet surrounding the pressure pipe; a flexible steam conduit surrounding the pressure pipe and tube extending from said outlet to the nozzle; a heat resistant handle around said conduit near the nozzle; tanks for cleansing liquids; a liquid pipe having valved branches extending to and draininv the respective tanks; and a flexible tube leading from the liquid pipe to the nozzle.

19. In combination, an internal combustion engine having an exhaust pipe; means disposed in close proximity to said engine for supplying water to form steam by heat of the engine; a liquid tank; a nozzle; a pressure pipe from the exhaust pipe to the nozzle; a steam pipe for conducting said steam to the nozzle; a liquid pipe from the tank to the nozzle; said nozzle comprising a chamber having an inlet communicating with the tank, a steam tube in said chamber having a widened rear end receiving said steam pipe, and a nozzle tube discharging coaxially into said steam tube and receiving said pressure pipe thereon.

20. In combination, an internal combustion engine having an exhaust pipe and a steam jacket around the exhaust pipe; insecticide tanks; an insecticide tube communicating with said tanks; a conduit from said steam jacket; a pressure tube communicating with said exhaust pipe; a nozzle comprising an elbow chamber having an outer discharge end and a lateral inlet; a connection on said lateral inlet connecting the insecticide tube tosaid chamber; a steam tube in said chamber coaxial with said discharge end and having a discharge end of Venturi form; the rear end of said steamv tube being widened and receiving said conduit thereon; a nozzle tube discharging coaxially into said widened part and receiving said pressure tube thereon; said nozzle tube being small enough to afford a steam passage therearound to the steam tube; and connecting members holding said nozzle tube in place in the widened part.

21. In combination, a truck having wheels supporting the same; a gasolene or other internal combustion engine supported on the truck and comprising a cylinder having a valve head, and a water jacket around the cylinder; a mufiler on the truck-below said cylinder; an exhaust pipe from the cylinder head to the muffler; a steam jacket around the exhaust pipe; a platform supported on the truck above the cylinder; a Water tank and tanks for liquid 1nsecticide or cleaning or other liquid on the platform; a pipe connecting said water tank with the head end of the water jacket; a pipe passing from said water jacket through the mufiler into the steam jacket; a compression pump on said platform for drawing the exhaust from the muflier; a nozzle; and pipes from the pump, the steam jacket, and the insecticide tanks to the nozzle.

22. In combination, an internal combustion engine comprising a cylinder having a water jacket thereon; a mufiier; an exhaust pipe from the cylinder to the mufiier; a steam acket on the exhaust pipe; water and lubricator tanks; a pipe connecting said water tank with the water acket; a pipe from said water jacket passing through the mufiler into said steam jacket; a discharge pipe from the muffier; a compression pump connected with said discharge pipe; a nozzle; a pressure pipe from the pump to the nozzle; a steam pipe from the steam jacket to the nozzle; and a pipe from the lubricator tank to the nozzle.

23. In combination, an internal combustion engine comprising a cylinder having a water jacket thereon; a muffler; an exhaust pipe from the cylinder to the mufiler; a steam jacket on the exhaust pipe; water and insecticide tanks; a pipe connecting said water tank with the water jacket; a pipe from said water jacket passing through the muflier into said steam jacket; a discharge pipe from the muffler; a compression pump connected with said discharge pipe; a nozzle; a pressure pipe from the pump to the nozzle; a steam pipe from the steam jacket to the nozzle; and an insecticide pipe from the insecticide tank to the nozzle; said nozzle comprising a chamber having an inlet communicating with the insecticide tank; a steam tube in said chamber having a widened rear end communicating with said steam pipe thereon; and a nozzle tube discharging coaxially into said steam tube and communicating with said pressure pipe thereon.

24. The combination with a nozzle, of an internal combustion engine, steam generating means heated by the thermal output of said engine, compressing means, means cooperating between said engine and said compressing means for operating the compressing means, means cooperating between said engine and said compressing means for conducting exhaust gases from the engine to said compressing means for compression of said gases, and

means cooperating with said compressing means steam generating means and said nozzle for conducting said gases under compression and steam to said nozzle.

5 25. The combination with a nozzle, of an internal combustion engine, means for generating steam by heat of said engine, and means actuated by the ower of said engine cooperating with said steam generating means and said nozzle for conducting steam from said generating means to said nozzle.

26. The combination with a nozzle, of an internal combustion engine having means for discharge of exhaust gases, steam generating means heated by said exhaust gases, a compression pump, means cooperating between said engine and said pump for operating the pump, means cooperating between said discharge means and said pump for conducting said exhaust gases from said discharge means to saidpump for compression of said gases by the pump, and means cooperating with said pump, steam generatin means and said nozzle for conducting sai exhaust gases under compression and steam to said nozzle.

27. In combination, a nozzle having means for separately receiving therein a stream of steam and a stream of exhaust gases, a chamber in said nozzle having a discharge outlet and an induction inlet, means for commingling the streams of steam and exhaust gases in the nozzle and discharging the commingled streams into said chamber, an internal combustion engine, means for generating steam by heat of said engine, means cooperating between said steam generating means and said nozzle for conducting steam from said means to said nozzle, means for discharge of exhaust gases from said engine, a compression pump, means cooperating between said engine and said pump for operating the pump, means cooperating between said exhaust discharge means and said pump for conducting exhaust ases from said discharge means to said pump or compression of said gases b the pump,

-means cooperating between sai pump and said nozzle for conducting said exhaust gases under compression from the pump to said nozzle, means for containing spray material, and means cooperating between said containing means and said inductioninletfor passage of said material into said chamber of the'nozzle, said material being drawn into said chamber by induction of the stream of commingled steam and exhaust gases and discharged therewith from the nozzle.

28. In a spraying system, a source of material to be sprayed, a prime mover, steam generating means associated with said prime mover and adapted to receive heat from the thermal output of said prime mover, a spraying means, compression means actuated by the power output t said prime mover and cooperating therewith to convert said thermal output into pressure fluid, and further cooperating with said spraying means and steam generating means to supply thereto said material to be sprayed.

- 23. A spraying method consisting in supplylng a source of material to be sprayed, supplying a source of water; simultaneously generating power and heat, generating steam from said water by action of said heat, generatlng a pressure fluid by the action of said power, spraying said steam and material by the action of said pressure fluid.

30. A spraying method which comprises supplying a material to be sprayed, generating power by means of combustible gases, compressing the exhaust gases, of the power generation by the action of the said ower, whereb a constant flow of compresse gases 1s obtained, and finally spraying said material with said compressed gases.

31. spraying method which comprises supplying a material to be sprayed, simultaneously by the same combustion generatin ower and heat, generating a gaseous fluid y the action of said heat, generating a pressure fluid by the action of said power, and finally spraying said material and gaseous fluid b the action of said pressure fluid.

32. spraying method which comprises, supplying a material to be sprayed, simultaneously by the same combustion generating power and hot gases, generating steam by the heat of said gases, compressing said gases by the action of said power, and finally spraylng said material and steam by the action of said compressed gases. 100

33. A method comprising causing combust1on under pressure; utilizing the heat to generate vapor under pressure; generating power from said combustion; exhausting the gases after generating the power; and em- 105 ploying the exhaust gases for drawing the vapor along with the gases and mixing the gases and vapor to form a pressure stream.

34. A method comprising causing combustion; utilizing the heat of said combustion 110 to generate vapor under pressure; generating power from said combustion; utilizing a portion of said power for raising the pressure of the combustion product gases; and mixing the gases and vapor to form a stream. 115

35. In combination, means for causing combustion under pressure; means for generating power from said combustion; means for utilizing a portion of said power for raising the pressure of the combustion product gases; means for employing said gases for drawing fluid by induction along with the gases and mixing the gases and fluid to form a pressure stream and discharging said 125 stream to form a dynamic blast.

36. In combination, means for causing combustion under pressure; means for generating power from said combustion; means for utilizing a portion of said power for no raising the pressure of the combustion product gases; and means for mixing the 1 and vapor to form a pressure stream an dischargin it in the form of a blast.

Signe at New York in the county of New York and State of New York this 31st day of August A. D. 1925.

JOHN E. SHEPHERD. 

